Plan on about 11 h 5 min of driving for the 441-mile (709 km) trip from São Leopoldo to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay, before any stops. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 257.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil, Uruguay. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
- Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Distance by road | 441 mi (709 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 |
| Border crossing | about mile 257, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Florida |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing from Brazil into Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 257, from Rio Grande do Sul into Cerro Largo. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Uruguay (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Uruguay | You can drive on your U.S. license. |
| Entering Brazil (U.S. citizens) | Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. |
| Driving in Brazil | If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026); U.S. State Department, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
Driving São Leopoldo to Alejandro Gallinal: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (195 mi) carries about 44% of the 441 miles. The first 257 miles are in Brazil; the last 184 are in Uruguay. It runs through 5 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Florida. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from São Leopoldo to Alejandro Gallinal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 1–112 | 111 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 112–171 | 59 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 171–255 | 84 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 255–256 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 256–401 | 145 | Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja |
| connecting roads | 401–402 | 1 | Lavalleja |
| local roads | 402–441 | 39 | Lavalleja, Florida |
- Mile 257 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Cerro Largo (international border)
- Mile 284 of this route: Cerro Largo → Treinta y Tres (region line)
- Mile 354 of this route: Treinta y Tres → Lavalleja (region line)
- Mile 403 of this route: Lavalleja → Florida (region line)
What to see on the way from São Leopoldo to Alejandro Gallinal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 12), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 112), Museo Agustín Araújo (mile 337)
- Nature and outdoors: Jacuí Delta State Park (mile 24)
- Museums and history: Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 12), Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo (mile 19), Estância das Pedras Brancas (mile 32), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 112), Museo Agustín Araújo (mile 337)
Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas
Canoas's history museum and archive keeps photos, newspapers, maps, documents, audiovisual material and objects that tell the story of the city in Rio Grande do Sul.
Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo
The Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo holds an art collection of about 3,000 items at the Arts Institute of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre.
Observatory of university federal of Rio Grande do Sul
Part of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, this astronomical observatory in Porto Alegre works as a scientific institution, a museum and a teaching unit.
Jacuí Delta State Park
Created in 1976, Jacuí Delta State Park (Parque Estadual Delta do Jacuí) protects the delta between Porto Alegre, Canoas, Eldorado do Sul and nearby towns, where fishers from Ilha da Pintada still practice traditional fishing.
Estância das Pedras Brancas
Estância das Pedras Brancas is a historic ranch tied to the history of Rio Grande do Sul and the town of Guaíba. Its first owner was Antônio Ferreira Leitão.
Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves
Created by state decree in 1972 and linked to Rio Grande do Sul's culture department, this historic park stands on the old Sesmaria do Cristal, land once granted to the father of Farroupilha leader Bento Gonçalves da Silva.
Quebrada de los Cuervos
Crossed by the Yerbal Chico creek, the Quebrada de los Cuervos is a ravine in Treinta y Tres department and a natural protected area in Uruguay.
Museo Agustín Araújo
Treinta y Tres's departmental fine arts museum, the Museo Agustín Araújo is a public museum in the city of Treinta y Tres, Uruguay.
More drives to Alejandro Gallinal
- Nueva Helvecia to Alejandro Gallinal
- Colonia del Sacramento to Alejandro Gallinal
- Carmelo to Alejandro Gallinal
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Alejandro Gallinal
- Tacuarembó to Alejandro Gallinal
- Paysandú to Alejandro Gallinal
More drives from São Leopoldo
- São Leopoldo to Paranaguá
- São Leopoldo to Jaraguá do Sul
- São Leopoldo to Camboriú
- São Leopoldo to Tubarão
- São Leopoldo to Lages
- São Leopoldo to Bagé
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from São Leopoldo to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay?
About 11 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 441 miles.
What is the driving distance from São Leopoldo to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay?
About 441 miles (709 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Where does the São Leopoldo to Alejandro Gallinal drive cross the border?
At about mile 257, from Brazil into Uruguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from São Leopoldo into Uruguay?
No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You can drive on your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 13, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from São Leopoldo to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between São Leopoldo and Alejandro Gallinal?
Closest to the road: Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (museum, mile 12, 0.2 mi from the route); Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (museum, mile 112, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo Agustín Araújo (museum, mile 337, 0.8 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.